Q: My 21-year-old son just broke up with his girlfriend of five years. He said it was mutual, and I'm not surprised by it. They're moving in different directions and have fundamentally different ideas of what the future holds for each.

Q: My former fiance, "John," prefers staying home to going out unless it's for work or family. I'm easygoing and never had a problem until a few weeks ago when he didn't come to an awards ceremony where I was being honored. I had to beg him to come.

Q: Last night I sat through my last awards ceremony. I would be ashamed if anyone knew what goes on in my mind during these ceremonies. I watch the exceptional students go up for applause. I sit with my child knowing he will not receive a thing and I wonder — why are these mandatory-attendance?

Q: I am about to start my sophomore year of college. During my freshman year I met a guy and fell in love with him. He is a really great guy but he was weird about our relationship: He refused to call us boyfriend-girlfriend even though we spent all our time together, slept together, and he told me he loved me. …